Method of and apparatus for unwinding strand material



Nov. 5, 1929. T. MOD YANCEY Y 1,734,704

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR UNWINDING STRAND MATERIAL Filed March 22, 1927 1 Nov. 5, 1929 THORNTON MCDUFFE'Y YAINCEY, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOTS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRIO mn'rnon or arm arranarus iron unwmnme sramm COMPANY, INCOORATED, OF NEW YO, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW Application filed. March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,269.,

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for unwinding strand material,

and more particularly to methods of and aparatus for serving strand material to a mov- 1ng core under minimum tension from a strand supply positioned coaxial with the core.

The primary objects ofthis invention are to provide improved methods of and apparatus for unwinding strand material under minimum tension.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, one embodiment thereof consists in the withdrawal of strand from a rotatable supply within a. serving head into covering relation with respect to avertically movable wire positioned coaxially therewith. The strand passes from the supply around a friction member rotatable in response to the rotation of the serving head and is then associated with the supply in such a manner that the total force required to rotate the su ply in withdrawing the strand therefrom wi 1 be distributed between several portions of the withdrawn strand.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a serving or insulating apparatus equipped with a serving head representing one embodiment of the invention by means of which the improved method may be efliciently practiced;

' head denoted generally by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 is disclosed in operative association with a frame 11 of a conventional wire insulating machine 12. A capstan 13 ositioned-at the upper portion of the mac ine is operatively connected with a motor 14 and which supports a cylindrical casing 22, the

base being provided with a depending shank 23 which is rotatably supported by a roller bearing 25 secured within the machine frame 11. Formed integral with the depending shank 23 and extending laterally therefrom is a frame arm 26 which is designed to support a plurality of meshing gears 28, 29, and 30. A cover member 32 companion to the frame arm 26 cooperates therewith and is secured thereto so as to present a complete housing for the gears 28, 29, and 30.

The gear 28 meshes with a stationary gear 33 formed at the upper extremity of a vertical sleeve 35 which is fixed to and supported by the frame 11 at its lower extremity. The sleeve 35 extends upwardly within a rotatable hollow shaft 36, this shaft 36 being provided at its lower extremity with a gear 38 and keyed to the shank 23 ofthe serving head base 20. The portion of the hollow shaft 36 extending upwardly from the base 20 provides a bearing for a spindle 39.which is freely rotatable thereon and adapted to support a strand supply 41. The upper extremity of the hollow shaft 36 terminates in a strand tically positioned adjacent the serving head casing 22. The lower reduced end of the frietion member 47 extends through the frame cover 32 and is keyed to the gear 30, while the upper extremity thereof is rotatable within a bracket arm 48 carried by the casing 22. From-the foregoing it will be clear that upon rotation of the serving head 10 the gear 28 meshing with the stationary gear 33 will be caused to rotate and the rotation experienced by the gear 28 will be transmitted to the gear 30 which is connected to the friction member 47, through the medium of the idler gear 29. In this manner the friction member 47 will rotate in response to the rotation of the serving head and the direction'of rotation of the cooperating parts may readily be determined by observing the directional arrows disclosed in 'Fig. 3. To balance the serving head 10 during its rotation, a counterweight is secured to the side of the easing 22 in .a position oppositely disposed from the friction members 47 and the parts associated therewith.

The strand 44 in the present instance com prises a plurality of individual cotton strands, suitablefor insulating electrical conductors. This strand 44 is directed from the supply 41 thereof to the peripheral surface of the friction member- 47 and is then redirected and wrapped around the supply 41 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. From the supply this strand is again passed around the surface of'the friction member and thence in clined upwardly to the iding fixture '42 and obviously upon rotatlon of the serving head 10 together with a contemporaneous upward movement of the wire 16, the strand 44 will be wrapped in helical formation ,around the wire 16. It has been the practice, in some instances, to pass the strand, such as strand 44, from a supply thereof directly into association with a wire to be covered without first passin portions of the strand over a friction mem r similar to the member 47. Under such circumstances the strand is subjected to a tension which results from the total force which is necessary to rotate the strand supply in order to withdraw the strand therefrom. By directing the strand from the supply into association with a friction member in the manner hereinbefore set forth, it will be understood that the force required to rotate the supply 41 will be distributed between a pluralit of portions of the strand. Hence, it will be clearthat the tension imposed upon the strand will be considerably less than the tension imposed upon a strand which is passed directly from the supplyto the wire without the use of the friction member 47. Unwinding or withdrawing strands under minimum tension greatly reduces theprobability of strand breakage incident to the unwinding operation. The embodiment of the invention disclosed is particularly well adapted for use in connection with unwinding strands from relativel large reels or supplies. wherein it is desira le to' effectively unwind strand material which will not withstand a tension imposed by a pulling force which is requiredness in the strand during the withdrawing operation is positively precluded. Hence. the strands may be withdrawn at a uniform, constant speed without experiencing any sudden or momentary increases in tension which ation.

fAlthough the invention has herein been 3 described in connection with a particular type of serving apparatus, it is to be under-- stood that the invention is capable of other applications and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. The method of unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, which consists in frictionally engaging a strand during the withdrawal thereof from a supply, directing the strand from the point of engagement into association with the supply so as to distribute the force requiredto withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand, and causing a relative movement between the point of frictional engagement and an axis of the supply.

2. The method of unwinding strand material from a rotatable supply thereof, which .consists .in frictionally engaging a strand Withdrawn from the supply at a point spaced from the supply, associating the. strand with consists in frictionally engaging a strand'at a point spaced from the supply, wrapping the strand around the peripheral surfaceof the supply so as to distribute the total force required to rotate the supply upon the withdrawal of strand therefrom betweena plurality of portions of the strand, and revolving the point of engagement of the strand about.

an axis of the supply.

4. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, means for sup-- porting a strand supply, means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supthe supply so as to distribute the total force ported supply, means for engaging the strand and associating it with the supply to cause a distribution of the force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand to mini.- mize the tension in the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply, and means ported supply, a cylindrical friction member for causing a relative movement between the enga 'ng means and an axis of the strand S pp y- 5. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, means for supportin' a strand supply, means for applying a with rawing force to a strand from a sup .ported supply, means including a cylindrical ing a relative movement between the cylin-- drical member and an axis of the supply.

6. In'apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, means for supporting a strand supply, means for supplying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supfor receiving a strand from a supported supply and directing the strand into engagement with the supply to distribute the force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strands to minimize the tension in the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply, and means for revolving the cylindrical member about an axis of the strand supply.

7. An apparatus for unwinding strand material from a rotatable supply thereof, a rotary means for rotatably supporting a-strand supply, means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supported supply, means for actuating the rotary support, and a cylindrical friction member for receiving a strand from a supported supply and directing the strand into engagement with the supply to distribute the force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand to minimize the tenslon in the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply, said cylindrical member being rotatable in response to the movement of the rotary support and revolluble about the axis of the supported sup- P y- 8. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a rotatable supply thereof, a rotary means for rotating and concentrically supporting the strand supply, means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supported supply, means for actuating the rotary support, a cylindrical friction member for engaging astrand from the supply and directin it into engagement with the su ply to distri ute the force required to with raw the strand from the su'pplybetween a plurality-of portions of the strand to minimize the tension in the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply, said c lindrical friction member being carried by t e rotary support and positioned concentrically thereof, and means operable in response to the operation of the rotary support for imparting rotation to the friction member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name-this 12th day of March A. D., 1927.

THORNTON MCDUFFEY YANCEY. 

